Neil smith football player biography

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The restaurant emphasized Cajun cuisine, aligning with Smith's Louisiana roots, and remained a notable venture in his portfolio into the mid-2000s.^[22] Smith also pursued endorsement opportunities, appearing in a series of national Campbell's Chunky Soup commercials during the late 1990s and early 2000s that highlighted NFL players' personal lives.

He was among the team leaders in tackles for losses (10 for 55 yards) and sacks (5 for 41). Sports betting operators have no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Past performances do not guarantee success in the future and betting odds fluctuate from one minute to the next.

Also caused two fumbles, recovered another, blocked a field goal at Colorado, broke up three passes, and had an interception at Missouri. In 1993, his performance placed him fifth in voting for the AP Defensive Player of the Year award, while he finished third in 1995. When the league relaunched in 2010, the team returned in 2011 as the Kansas City Command, with Smith continuing as co-owner alongside principal owner Chris Likens; the Command competed for two seasons before the AFL again suspended activities after 2012, leading to the franchise's dissolution.^[6]In addition to his AFL involvement, Smith owned Neil Smith's Copeland's, a Kansas City franchise of the New Orleans-style restaurant chain founded by Al Copeland, which he opened with his wife Sheri in 1996 and continued to operate post-retirement as a businessman.

In 1998, the league enacted the "Neil Smith Rule," which prohibits defensive linemen from flinching or simulating movement to draw an offensive false start penalty, a tactic he frequently employed to disrupt quarterbacks.^[26] This rule change was directly inspired by his celebrations and pre-snap maneuvers, cementing his reputation as an innovative and intimidating defender.^[6]

Team successes and impact

During his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1988 to 1996, Neil Smith was instrumental in the team's 1990s resurgence, anchoring a defense that achieved a franchise-record six consecutive playoff appearances from 1990 to 1995.^[4] His relentless pass-rushing ability, which included leading the team in sacks four straight years from 1992 to 1995, helped elevate the Chiefs to consistent AFC West contenders under head coach Marty Schottenheimer.^[6] Smith's contributions extended beyond statistics; as a six-time Pro Bowler, he exemplified the blend of individual prowess and team-oriented play that defined the era's Chiefs defenses.^[27]Central to Smith's impact in Kansas City was his dynamic pairing with linebacker Derrick Thomas, forming one of the NFL's most formidable pass-rush duos and combining for 171.5 sacks between 1989 and 1996.^[6] This tandem terrorized quarterbacks, with Smith crediting their success to mutual motivation: "Me and Derrick fed off each other very well...

He appeared in 13 games, starting seven, and recorded 2.5 sacks alongside 53 combined tackles, showing flashes of potential but also facing injuries and adjustment hurdles that limited his immediate impact.^[1][10]Smith's performance elevated dramatically during his peak years from 1991 to 1995, when he earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections for his relentless quarterback pressure and run-stopping ability.

These honors recognized his consistent dominance as a pass rusher, particularly during his tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he made five consecutive appearances from 1991 to 1995.Smith received multiple All-Pro accolades, including first-team honors from the Associated Press (AP), Pro Football Writers of America (PFW), and United Press International (UPI) in 1993, as well as PFW and UPI first-team selections in 1995.

Named Big Eight Defensive Player-of-the-Week for performance against the Buffs in which he had a team-leading and career high 12 tackles (including nine unassisted, two for losses of 15 yards, and a 12-yard sack), recovered a fumble to blunt a Colorado drive, and blocked a field goal.

1986 (Junior)
Smith played most of the season as Nebraska’s third defensive tackle behind three-year starter Chris Spachman and Lee Jones, but played roughly as much as the other two, a fact reflected in the 49-tackle total, higher then those of Spachman or Jones and seventh-best on the Huskers’ second-ranked defense (235.6 total offense yards per game).

Colorado and Oklahoma. No guarantees are made with regards to results or financial gain. Over these seasons, he consistently posted double-digit sack totals, including 14.5 in 1992 and 12 in 1995, contributing significantly to the Chiefs' competitive defenses in the early 1990s.^[1][11][8]Across nine seasons with the Chiefs from 1988 to 1996, Smith played in 138 games, accumulating 527 combined tackles and a franchise-second 86.5 sacks, rankings that underscored his long-term impact on the team's defensive front.

He became famous for his signature sack celebration—a pantomimed baseball bat swing inspired by Kansas City Royals icon George Brett (though it originated as a golf swing mimicry)—which energized Arrowhead Stadium crowds but frequently drew fines under the NFL's rules against excessive celebrations.^[1][4][12]Following a disappointing 1996 season marred by injury, where he managed only 6 sacks in 16 games, Smith's contract expired, making him an unrestricted free agent; the Chiefs opted not to re-sign him, leading to his departure after establishing himself as a cornerstone of their defense.^[6][1][10]

Denver Broncos

Neil Smith signed with the Denver Broncos as an unrestricted free agent on April 14, 1997, agreeing to a one-year, incentive-laden contract with a base salary between $1 million and $1.5 million.^[13] This move bolstered the Broncos' defensive line ahead of their push for a championship, integrating Smith as a veteran pass rusher alongside the team's high-powered offense led by quarterback John Elway.^[10] In his debut season, Smith started 13 of 14 games, recording 8.5 sacks and 34 combined tackles, which earned him his sixth Pro Bowl selection—building on his prior accolades from the Kansas City Chiefs.^[1]Smith's contributions were pivotal in the Broncos' back-to-back Super Bowl victories.

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